Cutoff machine



June 30, 1942.

W. F. RIDGWAY CUT-OFF MACHINEL Filed Jan. 3, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 N V4 5N TOQ/ W/mm Jpn adrroeivzp s June 30, 1942. w. F. RIDGWAY CUT-OFF MACHINE Filed Jan. 3, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Paul a Jun 39, 1942., s. MfHANLEY APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC CIRCUITS Filed July 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. faMfe/gq boojoooj CDOOZOOQZQ QQQQQQI- i QO TTORNEY June 30, 1942. w. F. RIDGWAY 2,287,833

CUT-OFF MACHINE Filed Jan. 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fiNvs/ymQ/ 0670029262 @9219 Y 4, WW 94AM,

June 30, 1942. w. F. RIDGWAY 2,287,833

CUT-OFF MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, :1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 30, 1942 i uNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTOFF MACHINE William F. Ridgway, Rockford, 111., assignor to The Ingersoll Milling Machine Company, Rock ford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 3, 1939, Serial No. 248,948

. 13 Claims. (Cl. 2 9--69) This invention relates generally to a machine pieces and that there is no intention to limit for cutting a continuously moving piece of stock the invention to the particular application deinto successive lengths or longitudinal sections scribed. On the other hand, the appended claims and has more particular reference to machines I are intended to cover all modifications and alterof the type in which a power driven cutter on a m native arrangements within the spirit and scope movable head operates to sever-the stock during of the invention. movement of the head while the latter is clamped The machine shown in the drawings to illusto the moving stock. trate the present invention is adapted to cut suc-v One object is to rovide a novel automatic cessive lengths l2 from the bar III as the latter mechanism for controlling various power actua- 10 is advanced continuously by two pairs of power tors to enable an operatingcycle to be executed actuated rollers I3 eng in pp Sides of the safely and reliably without danger of breakage of bar and operated at variable speeds according to machine parts or interrupting the stock moveoperating conditions prevailing in the casting ment, and this, in spite of the widely varying furnace or other mechanism by which the bar conditions encountered in service. is i'ormed.

Another object is to control the work clamp- Severing of the stock iseffected by a power ing mechanism in a novel manner such as to actuated cutter. in the form of a saw ll on a synchronize the movements of the stock and tool tool head 15 mounted on a carriage ii for horihead accurately and reliably and allow ample zontal movement transversely of the path of the time for completion of the diiferent parts of the stock. The carriage is slidable vertically along machine cycle. the stock path and carries clamps l1 and I8 by A further object is to provide an automatic which the carriage may be connected to the stock cut-off machine of the above character incorfor movement in unison therewith. When the porating a novel mechanism for enabling the lower end of the stock I 0 has advanced to a predemachine cycle to be-controlled manually in the 5 termined point, a trip dog I8 is engaged to event of failure of the power actuated devices initiate an automaticcycle. The latter involves -by which the cycle is normally governed. actuation of the clamps to gr p he stock fol- Still another object is to provide a novel and lowed by lowering of the carriage l6, advance of simplified arrangement 'of electric circuits for the cutter head l5, retraction of the cutter head controlling the machine cycle. after severance of the stock, release of the clamps,

The invention also resides in numerous proviand p d return of the carriage to an uppersions contributing to the safety of the machine most starting positionattendant. V The carriage comprises an open frame and is Other objects and advantages of the invention slidable up and ow 011 y defined y u willbecome apparent from the following detailed 85' Vertical Posts upstanding from the corners descriptiontaken in connection with the accomof a base 19. At their imp d e posts are panying drawings, in which: connected by a housing It carrying the feed roll- Figure l is a front elevational view of a cut- 6T5 n whim-i118 mechanism therefor includoif machine embodying the present invention. ing an electric motor 22 which may be con- Fig. 2 is a plan section taken along line 22 trolled automatically in any desired manner to of Fig. 1. dva ce the stock at a rate corresponding to its Fig. 3 is a schematic view and hydraulic circuit rate of formation. 7 diagmm Extending crosswise oi the carriage frame are Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conhorizontal rods 23 received in bearings 24 at optrol valve in the hydraulic system together with posite sides of the tool head II, the latter being the actuators for the valve, mounted thus to slidehorisontally and feed the Fig.5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the saw across the work path. The saw is fast on a control panel of the machine. vertical shaft 25 journaled in the headl5 and Fig. 6 is a diagram of the operating and driven through the medium of belts 26 from an control circuits for the cutter motor. electric motor 21 on the tool head.-

Fig. 'l is a wiring diagram of the cycle control To feed the-saw toward and. away from the mechanism. stock to cut oi! the latter, the head I5 is con- For convenience of illustration of its various nected to arod II of a piston 29 reciprocable in novel features, the invention has been shown a cylinder 3|! on the-saddle 16. Pressure fluid is herein as embodied in a machine particularly supplied to the cylinder by a pump 3| driven by adapted for use in severing lengths of stock from an electric motor 32 and the fluid flow is cona continuously formed bar .10 of copper or the trolled by a valve 33. The latter has a member like as it leaves the casting furnace II. It will 35 normally urged by a spring 36 into a position be understood, however, that the invention is -in which the head end of the cylinder is conadapted for operation on a wide variety 'of work 50 nected through a pipe 31 to the-return line 38 juster 43 to regulate the rate of fluid flow out of the cylinder 30. With the valve thus conditioned, the saw is fed toward and across the path of the stock ID at a rate regulated by the setting of the valve 43, the valve 4| acting in a well known manner to limit the volume of oil leaving the cylinder 30 irrespective of pressure variations.

In the present instance, the clamps l1 and I8 are positioned to engage the stock It) on opposite sides of the saw and each comprises a jaw 44 fixed to the carriage I6 and a movable jaw 45 slidable in a guide 46 and arranged to be moved by an independent hydraulic actuator. In the case of the upper clamp II, the movable jaw is connected to a piston 41 reciprocable in a cylinder 48 the opposite ends of which lead through pipes 49 and 50 to a control valve of the same construction as the valve 33 and having a member 5| urged to the left by a spring and shifted to the right when a solenoid 55 is energized.

Similarly, the movable jaw of the lower clamp is connected to a piston 52 in a cylinder 53 to I and from the opposite ends of which the flow of pressure fluid is controlled by a valve 54 having a member .54 shifted against the action of its spring by a solenoid 56. Thus, the valve members are urged to unclamping position by springs and are moved to. clamping position when the solenoids 55 and 56 are energized. Means is provided for effecting movement of the carriage |6 along the path of the stock l0 and timing these movements with reference to the operation of the clamps in a manner such as to avoid any strain on the stock that might result in displacement of the stock relative to the 'feed rolls l3. This means includes an hydraulic upper end of the cylinder is connected to the return line 38 and the lower end communicates through a pipe 62 with the casing ofa valve 60 which is connected by a pipe 6| to the pipe 49 through which the flow of fluid is controlled by the valve 5|. Slidable in the valve casing is a piston 64 having a central passage therethrough controlled bya check valve 65 and urged by a spring into the position shown in- Fig. 3 in which the only connection between the pipes BI and i2 is through the valve 65. When the pipe 6| becomes connected to the drain line 38 ...asit will when the solenoid 55 is energized, pressure d elops in the lower end of the cylinder 59 "d ue 'o the weight of the-carriage Hi. This. pressure raises the piston 64 against thespring 66 and permits a flow of fluid around the piston through a passage 61 along the side of the valve casing at a rate controlled by the stress of the spring 66 which may be regulated by a manually adjustable screw 68. Preferably, the normal adjustment of the valve 60 is such that the carriage l6 will, when the pipe 6| is connected to the drain, gravitate at a speed substantially equal to the rate of feed of the stock I0 by the feed rollers 13. By thus counterbalancing ubstantially the entire weight of the carriage IS,

the forces applied to the stock I!) tending to disthrough the check Valve 65 to the lower end of the cylinder 59.

In order to definitely insure actuation of the upper clamp I! with the proper pressure before the advance of the saw occurs, a pressure buildup valve 69 of well known construction is interposed in the supply line 4| at a point between the valve 5| and the valves 33 and 54. The valve 69 is set to pass fluid only when the fluid pressure is above a predetermined value sufficient to insure effective operation of the upper clamp. A pressure relief valve I0 is arranged to by-pass fluid to the sump at a pressure somewhat higher than that fgr which the valve 69 is set.

Automatic control of the cut-off machine through repeated cycles of operation is effected by means of an electrical control system associated with the valve actuating solenoids and interlocked in a novel manner with the circuits by which the saw drive motor 21 is controlled. As shown in Fig. '7, the cycle defining circuits are controlled by automatic dog actuated switches SI, S2, S3, and S4, a hand operated switch 92, and contacts of a relay 1! included in the saw motor circuit (Fig. 6). This latter relay interlocks the'saw motor with the cycle control circuit so that the contacts I! are closed whenever the saw motor 21 is operating. SI (see Fig. 1) is mounted on the machine base for vertical adjustment to gauge the length of stock cut off and its movable member is actuated by the dog I8 which is disposed in the path of the advancing bar [0, the switch being closed when engaged by the bar. The switch is adjustable along the path of the bar to vary the length of the cut-off piece.

The switches S2 and S4 are mounted on the carriage Hi and actuated by dogs 1|, 12, and 13 on a horizontal rod 14 on the cutter head IS. The arrangement is such that S2 is closed by the dog 12 at the end' of the return movement of the cutter head and is opened by the dog 1| after the saw has been advanced completely through S3 is mounted on the vertically movable carriage l6 and normally tends to open. It is held closed by a dog 15.0n a stationary vertical rod I5 and is allowed to open in thedownward movement of the carriage |6 at a point subsequent in point of time to closure of the switch S4.

To close the contacts '11 only when the saw motor 21 is operating, these contacts are ar rangedto be closed duringenergization of their associated relay winding 1] which is connected in parallel with the armature 18 and series fleld machine occur automatically in response to suecessive closures of the switch SI. This switch is closed when the lower advancing end of the bar I I8 engages and actuates the dog I 8', and closure I8 of the motor between direct current supply lines LI and L2. I

The application of current to the saw motor may be controlled in any preferred way, In the present circuit (Fig. 6), the saw motor 21 is v controlled We normally open push button start switch 88, two alternatively available normally closed push button stop switches 88 and 8|, a normally closed'dog operated switch S5, and a hand switch 82, all operating through the medium of apair of control relays 83 and 85. convenience, thecontacts oithese relays have been designated respectively as 83", 83*, 83, and

85, 85 and 85. Herein, the shunt field" of the saw motor is constantly energized during operation of the machine, and the series field and armature are initially energized through ua resistance 8| upon closure of contacts" 83 -of the relay 83 when the latter is energized. -The starte ing resistance 8| is shunted" out by closure of normally closed contacts 85' of the relay 85 which of the switch completes circuits for energizing all of the solenoids 42, 55 and 56 simultaneously. One circuit extends from the alternating current power line L3 through SI, S3, conductor 88, the solenoid 55 to the line L4. Energization of this solenoid shifts the valve member 5| to connect the pipes 48 and 5| to the drain 38 thereby initiating downward gravitational movement of the carriage l8 at a rate determined by the rate of flow of fluid out of the cylinder 58 through the valve 58. At the same time, the valve 5| admits pressure fluid to the head'end of the cylinder 48 to initiate application of the upper clamp II.

By utilizing a common valve 5| to open the outlet from the counterbalancing cylinder 58 and to energize the upper clamp, the carriage will always be conditioned for downward movement before it becomes clamped to the moving bar l8. There is, therefore, no danger of the bar being displaced relative to the feed rollers |3 by forces that would be applied to the bar by engagement of the clamp in advance of conditioning the caroccurs as an incident to deenergization of the relay'85. This latter} relay has a neutralizing coil 88 for delaying closure of. the contacts 85" and opening of its other sets of contacts 85'' and 85, which are normally open. The starting circuit for the motor control relays 83 and 85 extends through the start switch 88 of the push button type, normally closed and manually oper-' able stop and emergency stop switches 88 and 8| and the dog operated switch S5 which remains closed during the normal operation of themachine.

Operation of the machine under normal conditions will nowbe described, the various switches and valves being conditioned as shown in the drawings, all of the solenoids '42,, 55, and 58 being riage for downward movement.

- The sdlenoid 58 is energized through a circuit including the switches SI, $3, a conductor 81 and the then closed switch S2. This actuates the valve to condition the latter for the flow of pressure fluid to the head of the cylinder 53, the lowerclamp becoming applied when fluid at the proper pressure becom'es available,

The circuit for the solenoid 42 is throughthe I switches SI, $3, a conductor 81, S2, a conductor deenergized, the cutter head l5 being held i'ully retracted by pressure fluid applied to the-rod end of the cylinder 38, the clamps being released, and the carriage l6 being held in raised or starting position by pressure applied to the lower end of the cylinder 58. After closure of manually oper able switches 82 and 83 to condition the saw motor and control circuits, the start switch 88 is closed manually. This energizes the relay 85 through normally closed relay contacts 83, which relay 85 opens its normally closed contacts 85 to render the starting resistance 8| effective. Energization of the relay 85 also closes its normally open contacts 85 and 85 to energize the neutralizing coil 88 and the relay 83. The latter closes its contacts 83 to establish its own looking circuit and completes the motor starting circuit by closing its other set of contacts 83". Upon energization of the relay 83, its contacts 83 are also opened deenergizing the relay 85 but due to the action of the neutralizing coil 88 of the latter relay, opening of the contacts 85 and 85 and closure of the contacts 85 is delayed sufficiently to allow for proper starting of the motor through the resistance 8|. When the contacts 85 are finally allowed to close, the resistance 8| ,is shunted out and operation of the motor continues so long as the switches 88, 8|, S5 and the manual control switch 82 a're' allowed to remain closed. 4

With the saw motor thus operating as evidenced by energization .of the relay l1 and 010- sure of its contacts 11, repeated cycles of the 0, 7 energizing the solenoids 142 and 58 resulting in their: springs.

88,'and the relay contacts 11. The valve 33 is thus actuated and conditioned for the flow of pressure fluid to the head end of the cylinder 38 of the saw feeding actuator. Owing to the presence of the valve 88 in the fluid supply line 4|, pressure fluid will not be available for operating the lower clamp I8 and the saw feed actuator until sufficient pressure has built up in the upper clamp cylinder 48 to produce adequate clamping of the moving stock l0. When such a pressure is developed as a result of effective engagement of the stock' by the upper clamp, the valve 88.

passes fluid through the valves 33 and 54 to the head ends of the cylinders 30 and 53. Because .the cutter head l5 initially offers greater resistance to movement than the jaw of the lower clamp. the fluid first flows to the clamping cyilinder and actual feeding of the saw is delayed until the lower clamp has become fully effective.

In this way, everything is placed in readiness but, as pointed out above, this always occurs 'in a normal cycle, after closure of the switch S4.

When the saw has cut through the bar, the switch S2'is opened by the dog 1| thereby deretraction of the valve members 35 and 54" by Pressure fluid is thus supplied to the rod ends of the cylinders 38 and 53 initiating return of the cutter head l5 and release of the lower clamp I8. Fluid flows to the cylinder 30 through a check valve 30 Release of the clamp I8 allows the cut-off length I2 of stock to fall out of the machine and clear of the dog I8. Since the solenoid 55 is still energized, the upper clamp I'I remains effective and the carriage I6 continues to gravitate downwardly.

In the return movement of the cutter head I5 but after'the saw has passed out of the path of the advancing stock, the dog 13 becomes ineffective allowing the switch S4 to open deenergizing the solenoid 55. This shifts the valve member 5| to supply pressure fluid to the rod end of the cylinder 48 releasing the upper clamp II. Through the same valve, pressure fluid flows to the lower end of the cylinder 59. This raises the piston 58 and elevates the carriage I6 to starting position.

The next cycle of the machine is initiated when the lower end of the advancing stock reaches the trip dog I8 Thus, successive cycles of the machine are'repeated automatically so long as normal operating conditions prevail and the saw motor control relay 83 is allowed to remain energized. The automatic cycle control mechanism may be rendered ineffectual at any time by opening of the hand switch 93. Similarly the saw motor may be stopped by opening any one of the switches 90, SH, and 92.

Numerous safety provisions are made to avoid damage to the saw or other machine parts or interruption of the continuous movement of the stock I when abnormal conditions "are encountered. For example, if the cut off bar fails to clear the trip dog I8 properly when the lower clamp I8 is released following completion of the cut, immediate starting .of a new cycle "before the saw has been retracted and the carriage II raised is prevented by the action of theswiteh S3. Since this switch is open at the time SZis opened to release the lower clamp and retract the saw, reenergization of the solenoids through SI can occur only after full retraction of the saw followed by elevation of the carriage I0 substantially toward its starting position at least to a point at which a new cycle may safely be initiated.

The relay contacts II operate to disable the such stopping of the motor, the relay I1 is deenergized and its contacts 'I'I opened, thereby deenergizing the solenoid 42 and shifting the valve saw feeding mechanism and prevent engagement of the saw with the moving stock in the event that the saw motor is, for any reason, not operating at the start of a cycle and the relay 11 therefore deenergized. Similarly, if the "motor is stopped during a cycle either accidentally or by opening the stop switches, the relay will drop out and its contacts ll openthereby immediately initiating retraction of the saw out of the path of the advancing stock.

If, for any reason, the saw does not cut through the stock and cause opening of the switch S2 within a predetermined travel of the carriage I6,

provision is made for stopping of the saw motor,

retracting the cutter head, releasing the clamps and returning of the carriage to starting position. This is effected by the switch S5 on the carriage I6 adapted to be closed under normal conditions. The switch is opened by a dog 99 on therod 16 when the saddle overtravels to-a selected position beyond that at which the stock is severed under normal conditions. Then the switch remains open until the saddle has been returned to its upper starting position at which a dog I00 operates to reclose the switch.

If the switch S5 does, due" to overtravel of the saddle I6, become opened, the relay 03 is desition, be adapted for automatic operation while 33 to cause retraction of the cutter head I5. During this, the switch S4 becomes opened thereby deenergizing the solenoids 55 and 56 which results in release of the clamps I1 and I8 and elevation of the carriage I6, the switch S3 being open at the time;

For certain applications of the improved cutoil machine, it is highly important to provide for continuous movement of the stock being formed and therefore periodic operation of the same ir-' respective of abnormal conditions that may arise or failure of any parts of the automatic cycle control mechanism. To this end, means is provided for enabling each of the control valves 33,.

tions. Behind the panel, each handle is pivotally connected to the free .end of a lever I04 fulcrumed at I05 and carrying-a pin I05 which is disposed between the end flanges I01 and I00 on a spool I 09 fast: on a projecting stem I I0 of the associated valve member. The spool and pin thus provide a lost motion connection having sufficient slack therein to permit the valve member to shift through its normal range under the control of its solenoid when the handle I02 is held in its intermediate-position as shown in Fig. 4. To so lock the handle, grooves III, H2, and H3 spaced along the handle are adapted to receive the defining edge portion of the panel aperture when the handle is lowered with a selected groove disposed in the plane of the panel. When the handle is raised to aline it with an enlarged ,the flange I01 and the member of the associated valve willbe held in its left hand position. When the setting of the handle is determined by the groove III, the pin will act against the spool flange I08 .to shift the valve member in its right hand position, the same aswhen the' associated solenoid is normally energized.

It will beseen that by proper manipulation of the handles I02, the valves 33,,5I and 54 may be shifted to cause operation of the various hydraulically actuated parts in the sequence and timed relation required to cut oil? the stock in the regular way. Or certainof the valves may, by setting their handles in normal centered poothers may be hand operated at the proper time in an automatic cycle. It will thus be seen that the alternative manual actuators for the different valve devices, while normally inactive, are instantly available for use in cycling the machine.

Thus, the machine may be operated to permit of continuous formation of the stock I0 even though the automatic cycle control mechanism aasassa may, due to accident or for other reasons, fail to operate in the intended manner.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for cutting of! successive longitudinal sections i'rom a length of stock moving continuously in a downward direction, said machine having, in combination, a vertically movable carriage, a power actuated cutter mounted on said carriage iorhorizontal movement across the path of said stock, upper and lower clamps on said carriage positioned to grip said stock above and below the line 01' severance of the stock by said cutter, means responsive to the advance of a predetermined length of stock past the cutter when said carriage is in starting position to initiate downward movement of the carriage, application of said clamps and advance of said out-- ter, means responsive to severance of .the stock by said cutter torelease said lower clamp and retract the cutter, and means responsive to retraction oi. the cutter out of the path of said stock to release said upper clamp and initiate upward movement of said carriage. V

2. A machine for cutting ofi successive longitudinal sections froma length of continuously moving stock, said machine having, in combination, a carriage along the path of the stock, a power actuated cutter mounted on said; carriage for movement across the path of said stock, first and second clamps on said carriage respectively positioned to grip said stock ahead of and behind the line of severance of the stock by said cutter, cycle control mechanism operable to initiate movement of the carriage, application of said clamps and advance of said cutter, means re- 3. A machine for cutting ofi successive longitudinal sections from a length of stock moving continuously in a downward direction, said machine having, in combination, a vertically movable carriage, a power actuated cutter thereon, a

- clamp on said carriage ior gripping the stock to connect the stock and said carriage together and for simultaneously admitting pressure fluid to said actuator to apply said clamp whereby said cylinder is conditioned for downward movement of said carriage at a time not later than the effective gripping or said stock-bysaid clamp.

5. A machine for cutting ofi successive longitudinal sections from a continuously moving length of stock, said machine having, .in combination, a carriage movable along the stock including-clamping of the stock to the'carriage,

advance of the carriage, feed of the cutterto cut off the stock, return of the cutter, release of the clamp and return of the carriage, and means associated with saidmechanism to prevent the initiation of another cycle -by said device before return of the carriage in the event that the severed length of stock remainsin engagement with the-device and irrespective of the length or carlength of stock, said machine having, in com bination, a carriage movable along the stock pathra power actuated cutter mounted on said carriage for feed movement across said, path, a clamp on said carriage for gripping the stock to connect the same to said carriage, individual hydraulic actuators for said carriage, said cutter and said clamp, valves controlling the flow 01 pressure fluid to and from said actuators, solenoids controlling the shifting of the respective valves, a trip device; disposed in the path 01' the advancing end of 'said stock, mechanism controlling the selective energization'of said solenoids during operation of'the cutter thereon, an hydraulic actuator for said clamp, a cylinder and a piston therein associated with said carriage to counterbalance the weight thereof, and a single fluid control valve having a membershiftable to one position to admit pressure fluid simultaneously to said actuator and said cylinder for releasing said ,clamp and raising said carriage, said member being shiftable to a second position to condition said cylinder for the escape of fluid therefrom and to simultaneously admit pressure fluid to said actuator for applying said clamp whereby'said cylinder is conditioned for downward movement of the carriage at least as soon as said clamp becomes effective to connect the carriage to said stock.

4. A machine for cutting oil successive longi-' tudinal sections from a length of stock moving continuously in a downward direction, said machine having, in combination, a vertically movable carriage; a power actuated cuter thereon, a

clamp on said carriage for gripping the stock,

an hydraulic actuator for said clamp, a cylinder and a piston therein, associated with said carriage to counterbalance the weight thereof, and means controlling the flow of pressure fluid to and from said actuator and cylinder, said last mentioned means including a single valv'eior conditioning said cylinder for the escape of fluid therefrom and responsive to said device and to the movements of said cutter to define an automatic cycle of said actuators including clamping oi the stock to said carriage, advance of the carriage, feed. of the cutter to cut off the stock, return of the cutter, release of the clamp, and return of the.

, of said cutter by which such valves may be shifted into either of two positions independently of said solenoids, and means associated with each manual actuator to retain the same in either of two valveactuating positions or in a third position inwhich latter positionthe associated valve is operable independently by its solenoid.

'l. A machine for cutting ofi successive longitudinal sections from a continuously moving' length of stock, said-machine having, in combiators for said carriage, said cutter and said I clamp, yalvescontrolling the flow of pressure fluid -to and from, said actuators, solenoids controlling the shifting of the respective valves, a trip devicedisposed in the path of the advancing end of said stock, mechanism controlling the se-.

1 lective energization of saidsolenoids and responsive to said device and to the movements of said cutter to define an automatic cycle of said actuators including clamping of the stock to said carriage, advance of the carriage, feed of the cutter to cut off the stock, return of the cutter, release of the clamp, and return of the carriage, and individual manually operable actuators by which said valves may be shifted into either of two positions independently of said solenoids.

8. A machine for cutting ofi successive longitudinal sections from a continuously moving length of stock, said machine having, in combination, a carriage movable along the stock path, a power actuated cuttermounted on said carriage for movement across said path, a clamp on said carriage for gripping the stock to connect the sameto said carriage, individual power operators for said carriage, said cutter and said clamp, a plurality of devices for controlling said operators, solenoid actuators selectively energizable to actuate said devices, mechanism controlling the selective energization of said solenoid actuators to define an automatic cycleof said operator including clamping of the stock to said carriage, advance of the carriage, feed of the cutter to out 01f the stock, return of the cutter, release of the clamp, and return of thecarriage,

and individual manually operable actuators for l said devices for enabling said operators. to be controlled independently of said solenoid actuators.

9. A machine for cutting off successive longitudinal sections from a continuously moving length'of stock, said machine having, in combination, a carriagemovable alongthe stock path, a power actuated cutter mounted on said carriage for movement across said path, a clamp on said carriagefor gripping the stock to connect the sameto said-carriage, individual power actuators for saidcarriage, said 'cutter and said clamp, means including at least one solenoid adapted when energized to apply said clamp and initiate advance of said carriage and when deenergized to release the clamp and return the carriage, means including a second solenoid adapted when'en'ergized and deenergized to respectively advance and retract said cutter, a switch controlling the energization of both of said solenoids and adapted to be closed when the advancing endof said stock has reached a predetermined point, a switch in parallel with said first switch and adapted to be closed while said cutter is disposed in the path of said stock, and a switch controlling said second solenoid and arranged to remain closed during the advance of the cutter, to open after severance of the stock thereby, and to remain open during the return of the cutter.

10. A machine for cutting off successive longitudinal sections from a continuously moving length of stock, said machine having, in combination, a carriage movable along the stock path, a power actuated cutter mounted on said carriage for movementacross said path, a clamp on said carriage for gripping thev stock to connect the same to said carriage, individual power actuators for said carriage, said cutter and said clamp, a plurality of devices controlling said actuators and spring urged in directions to release said clamp, retract said cutter and'retract said carriage, individual solenoids for shifting said devices against the action of their springs, means responsive to of all of said solenoids, means operable upon the advance of said stock to cause energization severance of the stock to deenergize the cutter" control solenoid and thereby retract the cutter, and means responsive to retraction of said outter out of the path of said stock to deenergize the remaining solenoid.

11. A machine tool having, in combination, relatively movable work and tool supports, a power operator for one of said supports, a device shiftable between two positions to control the direction of movement of the movable support by said operator, avpower operated clamp for gripping the work piece to clamp it to said work support, a device shiftable to control the application and release of said clamp, solenoid actuators for shifting said devices, mechanism automatically operable to control said actuators and actuate said devices to define an automatic cycle of said machine tool, and independently operable manual actuators for said devices normally held inactive but instantly available to enable said cycle to be initiated or continued under manual control.

12.'A machine for cutting off successive longitudinal sections from a continuously moving length of stock, said machine having, in combination, a carriage movable along the stock path, a power actuated cutter mounted on said carriage for movement across said path, a clamp on said carriage for gripping the stock to connect the same to said carriage, individual power actuators for said carriage, said cutter and said clamp, a first switch, a trip device disposed in the path of the advancing end of th stock for closing said first switch upon engagement of said trip device by the stock, mechanism controlling said actuators in response to closure of said first switch by said trip device to initiate an automatic cycle including clamping of the stock to the carriage, advance of the carriage, feed of the cutter to cut off the stock, return of the cutter, release of the clamp and return of the carriage, a second switch connected in series 'its initial position in the event that the severed length oi stock remains in engagement with said trip device.

13. A machine tool having, in combination, a tool support and a work support disposed for relative movement, a rotatable tool on said tool support, means including an electric motor having an energizing winding for driving said tool, power actuated means for eifecting relative feeding movement between said supports, a relay comprising a pair of contacts and means including an actuating winding for operating said contacts, means for connecting said contacts to disable said power actuated means when said actuating winding is deenergized, and means for permanently connecting said actuating winding in circuit relation with said motor energizing .winding and without the interposition of any switches therebetween, to thereby positively intion of said windings.

WILLIAM F. RIDGWAY. 

